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Question: What is the best method of playing backing tracks as a vocalist performing in public!?
Any suggestions for type and make of equipmet would be welcomed!. I already have a pa system and have been using an iPod but this is not very practical in terms of onstage management!.Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
I know a lot of vocalists who use minidisc, but that technology is on the way out!. There are several good computer programs available, which would work well if you know what your set list is prior to each gig; if you're a Mac used, a free program called Qlab which is very powerful and flexible, or if you're a PC person, Sound Cue System - not free, but not that expensive either!. You can set both programs up to run exactly how you want them to - each backing track automatically starting after the previous one has finished, or stopping at the end of a track, starting partway through the track, timed fadeouts/fadeins etc etc, or with SCS you can also set up "Hot Keys" so that if your set list is a bit fluid, you can have each song assigned to a key, hit that key and the track will start!. We run sound effects and backing tracks off SCS and it's fantastic; if you're only running stereo tracks then you can get away with just running a cable out of your computer's headphone socket into your PA, but the quality does suffer a bit; if you want better quality sound, you'll need some sort of audio interface!. We use an M-Audio box which connects to your computer by a firewire port and then has outputs which plug into your PA!. It's all digital sound, so the quality is very high!. They're not all that expensive - we have the 8-output version which is about US$400, I believe, but a 2-output version (which is probably all you want) will be cheaper!.

Just Google QLab or Sound Cue System and you should find plenty of helpful information!Www@QuestionHome@Com